Astragalus tener var. titi

Coastal dunes milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered

Coastal dunes milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in central California coastal areas including Monterey County on coastal bluffs and dunes at elevations below 20 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces delicate flowers with pale colors in small clusters of 2 to 7 blooms. Growing with low-spreading stems 2 to 12 centimeters long, it forms compact plants in moist sandy coastal depressions. Its compound leaves span 2 to 7 centimeters and feature 7 to 13 small leaflets, creating a fine, intricate foliage pattern. The fruit develops 6 to 14 millimeters long, either straight or slightly curved.

Habitat: Moist sandy depressions (vernal pool) near coast, coastal bluffs, dunes

Bloom period: Mar-Jun

Elevation: < 20 m

Bioregions: c CCo (Monterey Co.), SCo (extirpated?).

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.